Abu Dhabi – Free Practice 2: Valtteri Bottas Takes the Lead, Lewis Hamilton Under Investigation
Valtteri Bottas managed to get ahead of the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, who were very lively today on the Abu Dhabi track. The Ferraris are further back in 5th and 6th place, with Kimi Räikkönen ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Lewis Hamilton has been placed under investigation following an incident during FP1.
After a relatively calm first free practice session this morning that saw the dominance of the two Red Bull drivers, the cars are back on track this early afternoon, French time, for the second session of the weekend.
The sun is setting on the Yas Marina track, and the drivers will be able to experience it under the same conditions they’ll face during the qualifying session and the race, with slightly cooler temperatures and improved grip since this morning.
The sun is setting, that means it's time for FP2 at @ymcofficial 🙌 #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7344bGp06w
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 novembre 2018
This morning, several drivers complained about the curb on the outside of turn 20, where a red/orange sausage kerb has been added to prevent the cars from going too wide.
But this modification leads to quite a few inconveniences, and the flat funds risk suffering in the race in case of repeated passage. At the beginning of the session, it’s Max Verstappen, fastest in the morning, who rides this kerb a bit too violently and worries about the condition of his car.
📻 “I think we need to check the floor”
Max pits after running over that sausage kerb at Turn 20 💥#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ynfYYxPSTE
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 novembre 2018
Very discreet this morning, two seconds off the best times, the Ferraris immediately set the two best times of this session by being the first to go below 1m37. Kimi Räikkönen clocked the best time with 1:37.461, just a tenth ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel.
But lap times are dropping very quickly with the softest tires, even if the drivers complain, as usual, about graining on their front tires.
Which does not prevent Valtteri Bottas from surprising the two Red Bulls and setting what will remain as the fastest time of this session with a 1:37.236. For his teammate, however, the rest of the weekend might be more complicated since Lewis Hamilton has been placed under investigation by the stewards for missing the pit entry this morning during FP1 and using reverse gear on track.
Sat nav fail 😬#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/KZYVO6ET1s
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 novembre 2018
The full ranking of FP2:
FP2 CLASSIFICATION: Bottas was quickest, but not by much #AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ptk6piI1AN
— Formula 1 (@F1) 23 novembre 2018
